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Communication in science (Educational line)

Vak
2017-2018

Admission requirements

Bachelor degree and admission to Master Vitality & Ageing.

Description

During this educational line, the students will develop their communication skills (written and spoken) in academic, scientific and professional contexts.
Communication is recognised as one of the most important tools in professional life. During the line Communication in Science (CIS) students will prepare for situations in which they will need to articulate their ideas in an engaging manner to expert and non-expert audiences.
Students will develop their spoken and written communication skills in English for their future career, for example as a researcher, practitioner or policy advisor. CIS will focus on enabling students to express their ideas clearly and confidently, to listen to others, to respond to others, and to ask relevant questions in order to obtain the information they need.

The course will enable students to express their ideas effectively in various formal and informal written and spoken genres. Students will gain an understanding of the principles scientific English. They will learn to analyse scientific papers from reader and writer perspectives.

Writing

Students will become acquainted with different components of scientific writing, such as planning, outlining, creating clear structure, being concise and building a strong argument. During peer feedback sessions students will consolidate the theorised strategies.

Oral skills

Students will develop scientific presentation skills and interpersonal communication. They will learn how to give effective presentations for different audiences and hone their feedback skills. There is also a focus on interpersonal communication, particularly with target groups such as the elderly.
Examples of assignments that develop these skills are:

  • Giving a convincing talk (like a TED of Fame Lab talk)

  • Participating in a debate

  • Interviewing

  • Writing a scientific essay

  • Writing a policy paper

  • Writing a Thesis

Course objectives

The student:

  • writes a scientific essay using the major principles of writing

  • acquires skills in writing structured, concise, professional documents in English

  • develops skills in presenting a specific and convincing message to different audiences

  • improves critical and argumentation skills through regular analysis of his/her own and his/her peers’ work

  • obtains communication skills that allow him/her to write and present coherently and convincingly, while applying modern presentation and writing principles

Mode of instruction

Working groups, writing and discussing exercises, (practical) assignments, peer review.

Assessment method

Oral and written assignments, in groups or individually. During the course students will also receive marks for their participation and for the quality of constructive feedback which they give peers on the above assignments.

Reading list

Will be published on blackboard.